CISF - DEFENCE & SECURITY

News: Nina Singh To Be First Woman Chief Of CISF

 

What's in the news?

       The government appointed the chiefs of three Central para-military forces, naming Anish Dayal Singh as the Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rahul Rasgotra as DG of Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP) and Nina Singh as DG of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

       Senior IPS officer Nina Singh took over as the first woman Director General of CISF, a central force that guards civil airports and other vital installations.

 

CISF - Central Industrial Security Force:

       The CISF is a central armed police force under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

       It was initially established in 1969 under CISF Act, 1968 to protect major PSUs.

       However, it was converted to armed force with a larger ambit under an amendment to the Act in 1983.

 

Key takeaways:

       CISF is tasked with providing security to various government installations including country’s airports, metros etc.

       Now, CISF provides security to industrial ventures and establishments, VIPs and engages in disaster management amongst others.

       With a force larger than 1,65,000 it is the largest security force in the world.

       It also provides consultancy services to private industries as well as other organisations within the Indian government.

       Scope of CISF’s consulting practice includes security consulting and fire protection consulting.

       It also plays a major role in Disaster Management. CISF has a ‘Fire Wing’ which helps during fire accidents in Industries where the CISF is on guard.

 

Functions:

To provide security cover to over 356 industrial units (including 13 Private Sector Units), government infrastructure projects and facilities and establishments located all over India. These include:

       Atomic power plants

       Space installations

       Mines

       Oil fields and refineries

       Major ports

       Heavy engineering

       Steel plants

       Barrages

       Fertiliser units

       Airports

       Hydroelectric/thermal power plants owned and controlled by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

       Currency notes presses.